Russia's foreign minister to visit Sri Lanka on Oct. 26

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will pay a brief working visit to Sri Lanka on October 26, the ministry said on Friday. Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said that during the diplomat's visit, an international deal on countering drug trafficking and a memorandum of understanding between the countries' emergencies ministries are expected to be signed.

Russia and Sri Lanka will also consider drawing up agreements on air transport, legal aid in criminal cases, tourism cooperation, trade, and economic partnership.

During his visit, Lavrov will meet with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama.

Nesterenko said Russia's joint stance with Sri Lanka at the United Nations earlier this year amid international criticism over the country's military operations against Tamil Tiger terrorists serves as a "clear example" of bilateral interaction.

In May the Sri Lankan military defeated the Tamil Tiger separatists and killed their leader in an operation that brought to an end 25 years of civil war. International rights groups accused the military of shelling the rebels in the war zone, killing large numbers of civilians who were being used as human shields. - (RIA Novosti)